Abacha Street Traders VS Police

By Alusine Fullah

Abacha Street Traders and hawkers have refused to honor a request made by the police to desist from street trading. On Thursday morning, a barrage of police officers stormed the Abacha Street Market to stop the traders from hawking on the streets. In response, the traders vowed to protest while stopping shop owners from opening their shops. Talking to this medium, Salimatu Turay lamented: “They threatened to loot our wares if we refuse to close/ stop selling from Abacha Street…” Abu Kamara: “I think we are not the problem. The problem is there is no other place for us as traders…government needs to provide market places for us before they ask us out…” Mbalu Konteh: “Some of us are single parents and this is the only way we can fend for our families…”

Speaking to Assistant Police Commissioner Senesie he urged all the traders from Abacha Street to be law-abiding and respectful. He pleaded them to refrain from any violence.

In Freetown, the experiences of petty traders offer a glimpse into the daily reality of food security for individuals, households and communities. In most of Freetown’s urban communities, especially in the central business district, women make up the majority of informal traders. Women also take on responsibility for most household management tasks, including procuring, distributing and preparing food. On top of these unpaid household duties, which sustain urban households, earning money through informal trading helps to reduce income poverty.

Conclusively, clash between traders and police is very frequent.